CRIMSON TEARS | Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone [1]

𝗶𝗶𝗶 | 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲

It was dusk when the carriage door slid open again. Gwen looked up from her book, as Harry and Ron, the latter of whom had just been about to turn his rat yellow, turned towards the door. A small girl with bushy brown hair and two front teeth that were slightly larger than the rest peered inside. She didn't say anything as she gazed around, then her shoulders deflated.

  'Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one.'

  She was wearing her plain black robes, clearly a first year too, with a wand in her right hand. She glanced between the three of them.

  Gwen was the only one to reply. 'No, sorry. If we do, we'll let you know.'

  The girl nodded, sending her a small smile, then her eyes flitted back to the wand in Ron's hand. 'You're doing magic? Let's see it then.'

  Ron raised an eyebrow, then turned back to his rat. He cleared his throat, looking slightly taken aback as the girl sat down next to Gwen.

  'Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow... turn this stupid, fat rat yellow.'

  He waved his wand but nothing happened. The rat, Scabbers, Gwen had learned earlier, stayed grey and fast asleep. The girl glanced between the three of them.

  'Is that a real spell?' she said. 'Well, it's not very good, is it? I've only tried a few simple ones myself, but they've all worked for me. Nobody in my family is magic, you see, so it was a surprise when I received my letter. Of course, though, I was ever so pleased. Hogwarts is the best school of witchcraft, I've heard - I read all through all of our set books and now know them by heart, I just hope it's enough. I'm Hermione Granger, by the way. What are your names?'

  The other three glanced between themselves; Gwen was relieved to see the surprise on their faces, that neither of them had learnt the books by heart either.

  'I'm Gwen Everill,' Gwen said. Hermione shook her hand.

  'Ron Weasley.'

  'Harry Potter.'

  The same look that Gwen had seen on Ron's face when he'd learned Harry's name passed over Hermione's.

  'Are you really?' she said quickly. 'I've read all about you. I bought a few extra books for background reading, you see.' She began to list off some books that Harry's name had featured in. Gwen had only heard of two of them, as Edward had received some books on the history of Dark Arts for his eleventh birthday.

  'Am I?' Harry said when she had finished. He looked dazed.

  Hermione continued, speaking fast as she went on to talk about the Hogwarts houses. She seemed to like the idea of Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. She finished by telling them that they ought to change, then left the compartment, sliding the door shut behind her.

  'Whatever house I'm in, I hope she's not in it,' Ron huffed, throwing his wand back into his trunk. 'Stupid spell. George gave it to me. Bet he knew it wasn't real.'